CHAPTER 12 SEISMIC DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDING STRUCTURES

Table 12.3-1 Horizontal Structural Irregularities

Seismic Design
Type Description Reference Section Category Application
1a. Torsional Irregularity: Torsional irregularity is defined to exist where the 12.3.3.4 D, E, and F
maximum story drift, computed including accidental torsion with Ax = 1.0, 12.7.3 B, C, D, E, and F
at one end of the structure transverse to an axis is more than 1.2 times the 12.8.4.3 C, D, E, and F
average of the story drifts at the two ends of the structure. Torsional 12.12.1 C, D, E, and F
irregularity requirements in the reference sections apply only to structures Table 12.6-1 D, E, and F
in which the diaphragms are rigid or semirigid. Section 16.2.2 B, C, D, E, and F
1b. Extreme Torsional Irregularity: Extreme torsional irregularity is defined 12.3.3.1 E and F
to exist where the maximum story drift, computed including accidental 12.3.3.4 D
torsion with Ax = 1.0, at one end of the structure transverse to an axis is 12.7.3 B, C, and D
more than 1.4 times the average of the story drifts at the two ends of the 12.8.4.3 C and D
structure. Extreme torsional irregularity requirements in the reference 12.12.1 C and D
sections apply only to structures in which the diaphragms are rigid or Table 12.6-1 D
semirigid. Section 16.2.2 B, C, and D
2. Reentrant Corner Irregularity: Reentrant corner irregularity is defined to 12.3.3.4 D, E, and F
exist where both plan projections of the structure beyond a reentrant corner Table 12.6-1 D, E, and F
are greater than 15% of the plan dimension of the structure in the given
direction.
3. Diaphragm Discontinuity Irregularity: Diaphragm discontinuity 12.3.3.4 D, E, and F
irregularity is defined to exist where there is a diaphragm with an abrupt Table 12.6-1 D, E, and F
discontinuity or variation in stiffness, including one having a cutout or open
area greater than 50% of the gross enclosed diaphragm area, or a change in
effective diaphragm stiffness of more than 50% from one story to the next.
4. Out-of-Plane Offset Irregularity: Out-of-plane offset irregularity is 12.3.3.3 B, C, D, E, and F
defined to exist where there is a discontinuity in a lateral force-resistance 12.3.3.4 D, E, and F
path, such as an out-of-plane offset of at least one of the vertical elements. 12.7.3 B, C, D, E, and F
Table 12.6-1 D, E, and F
Section 16.2.2 B, C, D, E, and F
5. Nonparallel System Irregularity: Nonparallel system irregularity is 12.5.3 C, D, E, and F
defined to exist where vertical lateral force-resisting elements are not 12.7.3 B, C, D, E, and F
parallel to the major orthogonal axes of the seismic force-resisting system. Table 12.6-1 D, E, and F
Section 16.2.2 B, C, D, E, and F

EXCEPTION: The limit does not apply where
the weak story is capable of resisting a total seismic
force equal to 0 times the design force prescribed in
Section 12.8.
12.3.3.3 Elements Supporting Discontinuous Walls
or Frames
Columns, beams, trusses, or slabs supporting
discontinuous walls or frames of structures having
horizontal irregularity Type 4 of Table 12.3-1 or vertical
irregularity Type 4 of Table 12.3-2 shall be designed to
resist the seismic load effects including overstrength
factor of Section 12.4.3. The connections of such
discontinuous elements to the supporting members shall
be adequate to transmit the forces for which the discon-
tinuous elements were required to be designed.
12.3.3.4 Increase in Forces Due to Irregularities for
Seismic Design Categories D through F
For structures assigned to Seismic Design
Category D, E, or F and having a horizontal structural
irregularity of Type 1a, 1b, 2, 3, or 4 in Table 12.3-1
or a vertical structural irregularity of Type 4 in Table
12.3-2, the design forces determined from Section
12.10.1.1 shall be increased 25 percent for the
following elements of the seismic force-resisting
system:
1. Connections of diaphragms to vertical elements
and to collectors.
2. Collectors and their connections, including
connections to vertical elements, of the seismic
force-resisting system.

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or nonlinear response analysis utilizing realistic
expected values of material strengths.
12.4.3.2 Load Combinations with
Overstrength Factor
Where the seismic load effect with overstrength
factor, Em, defined in Section 12.4.3, is combined with
the effects of other loads as set forth in Chapter 2, the
following seismic load combination for structures not
subject to flood or atmospheric ice loads shall be used
in lieu of the seismic load combinations in either
Section 2.3.2 or 2.4.1:
Basic Combinations for Strength Design with
Overstrength Factor (see Sections 2.3.2 and 2.2 for
notation).
5. (1.2 + 0.2SDS)D + oQE + L + 0.2S
7. (0.9 0.2SDS)D + oQE + 1.6H
NOTES:
1. The load factor on L in combination 5 is permitted
to equal 0.5 for all occupancies in which Lo in
Table 4-1 is less than or equal to 100 psf (4.79 kN/
m2), with the exception of garages or areas
occupied as places of public assembly.
2. The load factor on H shall be set equal to zero in
combination 7 if the structural action due to H
counteracts that due to E. Where lateral earth
pressure provides resistance to structural actions
from other forces, it shall not be included in H but
shall be included in the design resistance.
Basic Combinations for Allowable Stress Design
with Overstrength Factor (see Sections 2.4.1 and
2.2 for notation).
5. (1.0 + 0.14SDS)D + H + F + 0.7oQE
6. (1.0 + 0.105SDS)D + H + F + 0.525oQE + 0.75L +
0.75(Lr or S or R)
8. (0.6 0.14SDS)D + 0.7oQE + H
12.4.3.3 Allowable Stress Increase for Load
Combinations with Overstrength
Where allowable stress design methodologies are
used with the seismic load effect defined in Section
12.4.3 applied in load combinations 5, 6, or 8 of
Section 2.4.1, allowable stresses are permitted to
be determined using an allowable stress increase of
1.2. This increase shall not be combined with
increases in allowable stresses or load combination
reductions otherwise permitted by this standard or
the material reference document except for increases
due to adjustment factors in accordance with AF&PA
NDS.
MINIMUM DESIGN LOADS
12.4.4 Minimum Upward Force for Horizontal
Cantilevers for Seismic Design Categories
D through F
In structures assigned to Seismic Design Category
D, E, or F, horizontal cantilever structural members
shall be designed for a minimum net upward force of
0.2 times the dead load in addition to the applicable
load combinations of Section 12.4.
12.5 DIRECTION OF LOADING
12.5.1 Direction of Loading Criteria
The directions of application of seismic forces
used in the design shall be those which will produce
the most critical load effects. It is permitted to satisfy
this requirement using the procedures of Section
12.5.2 for Seismic Design Category B, Section 12.5.3
for Seismic Design Category C, and Section 12.5.4
for Seismic Design Categories D, E, and F.
12.5.2 Seismic Design Category B
For structures assigned to Seismic Design
Category B, the design seismic forces are permitted to
be applied independently in each of two orthogonal
directions and orthogonal interaction effects are
permitted to be neglected.
12.5.3 Seismic Design Category C
Loading applied to structures assigned to Seismic
Design Category C shall, as a minimum, conform to
the requirements of Section 12.5.2 for Seismic Design
Category B and the requirements of this section.
Structures that have horizontal structural irregularity
Type 5 in Table 12.3-1 shall use one of the following
procedures:
a. Orthogonal Combination Procedure. The
structure shall be analyzed using the equivalent
lateral force analysis procedure of Section 12.8, the
modal response spectrum analysis procedure of
Section 12.9, or the linear response history
procedure of Section 16.1, as permitted under
Section 12.6, with the loading applied indepen-
dently in any two orthogonal directions. The
requirement of Section 12.5.1 is deemed satisfied if
members and their foundations are designed for
100 percent of the forces for one direction plus 30
percent of the forces for the perpendicular direc-
tion. The combination requiring the maximum
component strength shall be used.
b. Simultaneous Application of Orthogonal
Ground Motion. The structure shall be analyzed
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